Support with carriage for the guidance of load like a box or basket

ABSTRACT

A stand comprises at least one substantially vertical first portion, carrying at least one first guide, provided to guide the slider between a rear stable first position for a load like a box or basket, and a front second position from which the load can be released from the slider relatively easily, the first guide being designed longitudinally, extending from the rear portion of the stand from a relatively low point, to the front portion of the stand at a relatively high point.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stand with a slider. The standincludes at least one substantially vertical first portion, carrying atleast one first guide means, provided to guide the slider between a rearstable first position for a load like a box or basket, and a frontsecond position from which the load can be released from the sliderrelatively easily. The first guide means extends longitudinally from therear portion of the stand from a relatively low point, to the frontportion of the stand at a relatively high point.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stands with sliders are known in the prior art. For example, Swedishpublication for opposition No. 348,361 discloses a relativelycomplicated and thus expensive stand which, due to its complexity hasprobably not been used too widely.

Other designs are also known, such as French Patent FR 1 238 668. Buthitherto, there has been no stand of the prior art which discloses asimple design which is efficient and safe in handling a load. Moreover,in the prior art, no design has been provided where the slider carries arelatively heavy load in a front position without requiring a strongstand design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a stand with a sliderwhich provides the advantageous features mentioned as lacking in theprior art discussed above.

According to the invention, such a stand with a slider is characterizedprimarily in that a first guide means is provided in such a way that arelatively low point is located level with the uppermost portion of theslider. In addition, the slider, at its rear portion above the load, isprovided with a first guide element cooperating with the first guidemeans. The stand, at its front portion, is provided with a second guidemeans for guiding the underside of the slider.

The slider and the guide of the present invention may be designed inmany ways within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In oneadvantageous embodiment, the slider is formed with a vertical rearportion and a horizontal underside. A first guide means may be formed asa rail. The first guide element may be formed as a pulley while thesecond guide means may comprise a horizontal roller.

Other embodiments may be employed within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. For example, a design is conceivable where the standhas only one side portion with respect to only one guide means. In sucha case, the guide means may be located above the middle of the slider.

In another suitable embodiment, the stand may comprise two sideportions, each of them provided with first guide means while the slideris provided with two corresponding first guide elements.

It may not be necessary to limit the ability to move the slider forwardsand downwards, but it may be advantageous to provide cooperatingelements at the stand and at the slider to limit movement to a positionwhere the slider tilts forwards and downwards where any load like a boxor basket can be easily removed from the slider.

The slider and stand may be suitably manufactured from extrusionspreferably from aluminum.

In another advantageous embodiment, the slider may be provided, at itsrearmost lowest position with a hinge around which a flap is joined. Theflap may act against the force of a spring or the like. The flap may berotatable from a first, substantially vertical position towards the rearportion of a load, to a second, substantially horizontal position, inwhich the flap, by means of a stop, prevents the load from movingbackwards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be describedin more detail below, reference being made to the enclosed schematicalFigures.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the stand of the presentinvention, illustrating the slider in a first rear position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view in the direction of the arrows marked byA--A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the stand in FIG. 1, illustrating the sliderin a second, front position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view in the direction of the arrows marked byB--B in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the slideraccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the two sides of the stand. In each of thesides, there are fixed, first guide means 3 and 4, respectively in theform of U-shaped extrusions. Each of first guide means 3 and 4 are fixedat a lower point in the rear of the stand and at a higher point at thefront of the stand, such that the guide means rise upwards and forwardsin the stand.

The slider comprises left and right horizontal underside portions 5 and6, respectively and left and right vertical rear portions 7 and 8,respectively. In practice, horizontal underside portions 5 and 6, andvertical rear portions 7 and 8 may be made from extrusions in such a waythat horizontal underside portion 5 may be coupled to vertical rearportion 7 by a cross bar 9. Similarly, and horizontal underside portion6 may be coupled to vertical rear portion 8 by a cross bar 10.

The use of extruded parts keep one side (comprising elements 5, 7, and9) of the slider together with the opposite side (comprising elements 6,8, and 10). In the upper part of vertical rear portions 7 and 8 areprovided, at each side, respective guide elements in the form of pulleys11 and 12, respectively. Pulleys 11 and 12 are arranged to run incorresponding first guide means 3 and 4, respectively, each of which hasa U-profile for accepting pulleys 11 and 12, respectively.

Between the sides of the stand there is provided, at the front, ahorizontal shaft 13 with guide wheels 14 and 15 for guiding theunderside of respective slider elements 5 and 6. Also located at thefront portion of the stand are stop lugs 16 and 17 provided to preventthe slider with its cooperating stop lugs 18 and 19 from moving forwardsand downwards further than a predetermined position where the load ofthe slider may easily be removed from the slider.

The function of the slider is most readily understood from FIGS. 2 and4. In FIG. 2, the slider is in a first, rearward position, and restsstably with its load in that position. If the slider is drawn forwards,the rear portion will be guided forwards and upwards and the undersidewill be guided forwards and downwards, such that the slider will tiltforwards and downwards. By locating stop lugs 18 and 19 at the slidersuitably, the slider will take such a position, without any significantforce, such that loading and unloading of a box, basket or the like willbe easy and safe.

The slider, as illustrated in FIG. 5 is provided, at its rearmost,lowest portion with a hinge 20, around which a flap 21A,B is joined.Flap 21A,B is rotatable against the force of a spring or the like, froma first, substantially horizontal position 21A, towards the rear portionof a load 22, to a second, substantially horizontal position 21B, inwhich the flap by a stop 23 prevents the load from moving backwards.

It is thus possible to draw out the load backwards to a position whereis it held in place by the flap. If this flap is pressed down so thatthe load is released, the load may be lifted out.

While the preferred embodiment and various alternative embodiments ofthe invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it maybe apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form anddetail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopethereof.

We claim:
 1. A stand comprising:a slider; at least one substantiallyvertical first portion including: at least one first guide meansprovided to guide said slider between a rear stable first position forsupporting a load and a front second position from which the load can bereleased from said slider relatively easily, said at least one firstguide means extending longitudinally from a rear portion of said standfrom a relatively low point, to a front portion of said stand at arelatively high point, said at least one first guide means beingprovided such that said relatively low point is located level with anuppermost portion of said slider when said slider is in its firstposition; said slider comprising, at a rear portion a first guideelement cooperating with said first guide means, said first guideelement being located on the slider such that when the load ispositioned on the slider the guide element extends thereabove; and saidstand further comprising a second guide means, provided at a frontposition of the stand for guiding the underside of said slider.
 2. Astand according to claim 1, wherein said slider is provided, at itsrear, lowest portion, with a hinge around which a flap is joined,against the force of a spring means, the flap being rotatable from afirst substantially vertical position, to a second substantiallyhorizontal portion.
 3. A stand according to claim 1, wherein said standis provided with cooperating elements for limiting movement of saidslider forwards and downwards.
 4. A stand according to claim 3, whereinsaid slider is built from one or more extrusions.
 5. A stand accordingto claim 3, wherein said slider is provided, at its rear, lowestportion, with a hinge around which a flap is joined, against the forceof a spring means, the flap being rotatable from a first substantiallyvertical position to a second substantially horizontal portion.
 6. Astand according to claim 1, wherein said slider is built from one ormore extrusions.
 7. A stand according to claim 6, wherein said slider isprovided, at its rear, lowest portion, with a hinge around which a flapis joined, against the force of a spring means, the flap being rotatablefrom a first substantially vertical position to a second substantiallyhorizontal portion.
 8. A stand according to claim 1, wherein said slideris provided with a vertical rear portion and a horizontal undersideportion,said first guide means comprises a rail, said first guideelement comprises at least one pulley, and said second guide meanscomprises a horizonal shaft.
 9. A stand according claim 8, wherein saidstand is provided with cooperating elements for limiting movement ofsaid slider forwards and downwards.
 10. A stand according to claim 8,wherein said slider is built from one or more extrusions.
 11. A standaccording to claim 8, wherein said slider is provided, at its rear,lowest portion, with a hinge around which a flap is joined, against theforce of a spring means, the flap being rotatable from a firstsubstantially vertical position to a second substantially horizontalportion.
 12. A stand according to claim 1 or 8, whereinsaid at least onesubstantially vertical first portion of said stand comprises two sideportions, each of which is provided with first guide means, and saidslider is provided with two corresponding first guide elements, eachengaging a respective one of said first guide means.
 13. A standaccording claim 12, wherein said stand is provided with cooperatingelements for limiting movement of said slider forwards and downwards.14. A stand according to claim 12, wherein said slider is built from oneor more extrusions.
 15. A stand according to claim 12, wherein saidslider is provided, at its rear, lowest portion, with a hinge aroundwhich a flap is joined, against the force of a spring means, the flapbeing rotatable from a first substantially vertical position to a secondsubstantially horizontal portion.
 16. A slidable load-carrying apparatuscomprising:a slider having at least one guide element; and a stand forslidably supporting the slider, the stand including:at least one firstguide means, cooperatively engaging said at least one guide element,said first guide means provided to guide the slider between a rearstable first position for supporting a load and a front second positionfrom which the load can be released from the slider relatively easily,the first guide means extending longitudinally from a rear portion ofthe stand from a relatively low point, to a front portion of the standat a relatively high point, said the first guide means being providedsuch that the relatively low point is located substantially level withan uppermost portion of the slider when said slider is in its firstposition, and a second guide means, provided at a front position of thestand for guiding the underside of the slider, wherein the slider isprovided with a vertical rear portion and a horizontal undersideportion, the first guide means comprises a rail, the first guide elementcomprises at least one pulley, and the second guide means comprises ahorizonal shaft, wherein the stand comprises two side portions, each ofwhich is provided with one of the at least one first guide means, andthe slider is provided with two corresponding guide elements engagingrespective first guide means on the stand, wherein the stand and theslider are provided with cooperating elements for limiting movement ofthe slider forwards and downwards, and wherein the slider is provided,at its rearmost lowest portion, with a hinged, spring-loaded flap,rotatable from a first substantially vertical position, to a second,substantially horizontal portion.